Why germs (not antibacterials) are your friends

Here’s something to think about during your next shower: Your body is basically a motel for millions of uninvited, freeloading bacteria that have camped out on your skin. But before you rush out and buy another magnum of antibacterial body wash, consider this: According to new research published in Science online, those millions of “microbiata,” unpleasant as they are to ponder, are a good thing—and they may protect you from infection, parasites, and possibly even common inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

“We found that skin bacteria directly contribute to protective immunity,” says Shruti Naik, a doctoral candidate at University of Pennsylvania and a research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, which conducted the research. According to Naik, “germ-free” mice—meaning rodents without any bacteria in or on their bodies—were “not able to defend against infection in the skin.” But when the germ-free mice were given some, well, germs, their skin regained the ability to fend off invaders. “These findings indicate that [certain bacteria] on the skin is essential for protection.”

What’s more, recent research has called into question the increasingly common use of the antibacterial triclosan, which is widely used in body products, toothpaste and hand sanitizers. (To find out how you can avoid triclosan, read The Toxin In Your Toothpaste.) And all the way back in 2000, the American Medical Association had this to say: “Studies … suggest that acquired resistance to these antimicrobials in bacteria may also predispose these organisms to resistance against therapeutic antibiotics." Translation: Overusing antibacterials might be making dangerous bacteria—not the beneficial stuff on your skin—even harder to kill.

So what does that mean for you? “First, it’s important to understand that not all bacteria present in our bodies are harmful,” Naik says. The research “raises questions about the effects of modern life on your skin flora,” Naik continues. “You should be conscious of how your everyday routines—such as the use of antibacterial soaps, lotions etc.—could impact your normal skin bacteria and subsequently skin health.”

Experts disagree about what that means in practical terms. But while no one is saying it’s a good idea to swear off soap entirely, one thing’s certain: You do not need a harsh antibiotic soap in your bathroom or shower for daily use. Your skin—and your germs—will thank you.